Wilmington man sentenced as habitual felon for drug, gun charges

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) – A judge sentenced a Wilmington man to more than 5 years behind bars for drugs and gun charges.

Sherman Pearson, 43, will spend between 66 and 118 months in the Department of Adult Correction. Pearson pled guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Possess with Intent to Sell Heroin and Cocaine, and having attained the status of a Habitual Felon.

New Hanover County Sheriff’s Narcotics Detectives served a search warrant at Pearson’s home in the 1200 block of South 6th Street on April 27.  During a search of the bedroom where Pearson
was found, detectives found heroin, 20 grams of crack cocaine, and a .22 Walther handgun under the mattress.

The investigation revealed that Pearson had been purchasing powder cocaine and converting it to crack cocaine before selling it.

Pearson said that he learned how to make crack on the Internet.

“This case highlights one of the dark sides of the Internet and shows that drug dealers will find ways to protect their products. Fortunately we have vigilant detectives in order to combat this activity,” said ADA Timothy Severo.

Pearson purchased the handgun from someone on the street about a month prior to his arrest.  He was previously convicted of drug sales, making it illegal for him to possess the firearm.